SUNY Plattsburgh Lecturer Selected for Kent State Award

Andrea Simms is a 2008 graduate of Kent State’s master’s in special education program
and a current Ph.D. candidate at the university. She has worked in the field of education
for 13 years, spending much of that time in the Bahamas as a generalist teacher, an
intervention specialist and a professional development consultant. Simms is now a
lecturer in SUNY Plattsburgh’s teacher education program.

As a teaching consultant, Simms facilitated numerous face-to-face and online trainings
for teachers and administrators throughout the Bahamas. In doing so, she addressed
the implementation of academic interventions for struggling students and the provision
of positive behavior interventions and supports for students who exhibited challenging
behaviors.

Simms also worked with the language arts curriculum team from the Ministry of Education
in the Bahamas to revamp the curriculum by incorporating adaptations and modifications
for students with disabilities. In addition, she served as a mentor for first-year
teachers and prospective teachers at The College of The Bahamas.

Her extensive work with students, parents, teachers, prospective teachers, school
administrators, district superintendents, Ministry of Education officials and faculty
at The College of The Bahamas, resulted in Simms being named the country’s Ninth National
Teacher of the Year in April 2010.

“I am honored to have received this award from Kent State University,” Simms said.
“At the same time, I am also mindful that my journey in academia has only just begun.
Therefore, I see this award as a motivator for me to continue to push forward with
vigor as I learn, instruct, research and serve. I am very happy to be at SUNY Plattsburgh,
and I am grateful for this opportunity to work with the talented students, faculty
and staff in the Teacher Education Unit.”